Ontario’s gaming regulator ordered Booming Games Malta Limited to pay CA$70,000 on August 20, 2026. The penalty followed a finding that prohibited auto-play remained available on several slot titles offered to Ontario players.

  • The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario found breaches involving auto-play and ongoing game monitoring.
  • The affected functionality was disabled after the regulator notified the licensed operator.
  • Booming Games has 15 days to seek a hearing before Ontario’s Licence Appeal Tribunal.

The case puts responsibility on gaming suppliers as well as operators to configure, test and monitor games used in Ontario.

What happened

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario said Booming Games failed to properly configure, test and monitor certain games before and after their launch in Ontario. The supplier’s titles made an auto-play option available for several months.

Auto-play allows consecutive slot spins without a player manually starting each game. Ontario prohibits the feature because it can reduce opportunities for players to pause and reconsider their play, according to iGaming Business.

The regulator said it identified the breach through targeted compliance work. After notifying the operator hosting the games, the auto-play functionality was disabled.

Why suppliers face scrutiny

The penalty targets a registered gaming supplier, not the provincial lottery corporation or the regulator. Ontario’s compliance system assigns responsibilities to both operators and suppliers involved in delivering regulated games.

Guidance from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario says games and other critical gaming systems must be certified by an independent testing laboratory registered with the regulator before deployment. Changes affecting responsible gaming, game integrity, fairness or security can require recertification.

The case shows that certification before launch does not replace ongoing compliance checks. Suppliers must verify that the Ontario version of a game is configured correctly and remains compliant after software changes.

Player-protection implications

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario describes Ontario’s game-design rules as player-protection measures, not optional technical requirements. The regulator said suppliers must prevent prohibited features from reaching Ontario players and take corrective action when safeguards fail, according to iGaming Business.

The penalty also reflects the province’s broader approach to online gambling oversight. The regulator says its standards-based system uses inspections, compliance activity and monetary penalties to enforce gaming rules.

What happens next

Booming Games has 15 days to seek a hearing before Ontario’s Licence Appeal Tribunal. The available reporting does not state whether the supplier intends to appeal.

The immediate technical issue has been addressed because the affected auto-play functionality was disabled. The remaining compliance question is whether suppliers and operators can detect prohibited features before games reach Ontario players and continue monitoring them after launch.